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Rockies waiting to see if bullpen moves pay off

Veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins explains his decision to return to the Rockies and what he expects his role to be with the team in 2014

By Cash Kruth
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MLB.com |

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Colorado made two big offseason moves to shore up a rocky bullpen that was overworked and undermanned last season, but the club has yet to see its upgraded relief corps come together in Arizona.

Closer LaTroy Hawkins (one year for $2.5 million, plus a club option) and lefty Boone Logan (three years for $16.5 million) were key additions to a 'pen that in 2013 threw the most innings (555 2/3), allowed the most runs (278) and had the highest average against (.270) in the National League.

A good chunk of the bullpen's struggles came after Rafael Betancourt's season-ending elbow injury, leaving the Rockies scrambling for arms. The acquisition of Hawkins and Boone -- as well as the expected growth from youngsters Rex Brothers and Adam Ottavino -- have added much-needed depth for the upcoming season, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

The problem this spring, however, is that Logan has yet to see the field as he recovers from offseason surgery that removed bone chips from his throwing elbow, though he is progressing. That means Weiss hasn't been able to get a true idea of what he has.

The Rockies are hoping find out sooner rather than later, but one thing Weiss is already certain of is that this season's bullpen looks better on paper than last year's.